"TROUBLING WORDS LIKE MARY HEARD"
by Reverend Barbara Sexton
Take this Sermonette, print it and share it!
Luke 1:26-38 NIV
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God."
38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)
I pray these days leading up to Christmas Day are ones of excitement, hope and happiness for you. Don't let the busy-ness overtake you, and take time for yourselves, dear ones. Eat well, be moderate in your frivolity and try to get enough sleep.
Give freely and joyfully...but only if you can. Do this and that at the suggestion of others...but only if you really want to! Tell them Reverend Barb said, "It's okay to say NO! God wants us to be wise and practical with our resources."
As importantly, don't let anyone, but anyone put the squeeze on you--be it your church, your clergyperson, a non-profit organization, a political group or anyone else. Just do good and do it your way, as you believe the Lord would have you do it. Tell anyone trying to 'shake you down' and/or intimidate you 'to give' that Reverend Barb said, "I'm doing it differently this year! I'm going 'hands-on'! I'm giving what I want to give, to whom I want to give and I'm 'saying yes' as Mary did....as Joseph did...so many years ago."
Tell them the greatest thing we can do here on earth is to do God's work through His Holy Spirit, especially at Christmas.
That means volunteering time, elbow-grease, grunt work, technical help, works of charity, companionship, and all the things money simply cannot buy.
Adopt a senior or at-risk youth for the holidays. Drive someone to doctors' offices or to shop. Visit shut-ins. Ring a bell (be sure to bundle up well first). Take the more difficult route, the more challenging route this year. You'll still probably spend more money than you'd like, but you will have a closer walk with Jesus and his parents. You are putting 'the Word to work' and will have a gift-giving season in a class by itself.
Try it. Dare to be bold in your convictions and inspire others, especially your children, to do the same.
Then you will see what wonders God lays before you, so prepare to be amazed.
With Hope & Love that you will be like Mary and have no trouble saying 'YES'!--
Reverend Barbara Sexton December 9, 2009Chr
No comments:
Post a Comment